CD-Charts Position 1
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Commando [1986]

starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rae Dawn Chong, Dan Hedaya, Vernon Wells, James Olson
directed by: Mark L. Lester

Release Date August 25, 2003
Did you notice in "the bloodbath scene" bullets are being deflected away from Arnold by ROSE BUSHES??

The last time i saw that miracle i was watching the mostly excellent Miami Vice season 1 "No Exit" with Don Johnson.

Anyhoo, who can forget that all the while Matrix is laying waste to the entire island his daughter is within earshot, listening to her father murder hundreds of people. And then she watches him mutilate Bennett right in front of her eyes. Then it's all topped off with one of my favourite lines of all time. When the general asks him, "Leave anything for us," Matrix aka Ben Dinsdale, with daughter in his arms, replies, "Just bodies." And then he looks down and smiles at her as she beams proudly..
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CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Last Stand At Saber River [1997]

starring: Tom Selleck, Suzy Amis, David Dukes, David Carradine, Tracey Needham
directed by: Dick Lowry

Release Date July 25, 2005
I like Tom Selleck as an actor but I think he is better suited in programmes like Magnum.
He appears to struggle with the character, perhaps overacting, He is not of the calibre of the likes of actors such as Wayne, Eastwood, Douglas, Scott, Stewart in this genre.
The movie is pretty routine and predictable and offers no surprises. If you want something for a lazy wet afternoon, this is it.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Rose Red [2001]

starring: Nancy Travis, Robert Blanche, Matt Keeslar, Kimberly Brown, David Dukes
directed by: Craig R. Baxley

Release Date February 10, 2003
Not For Anyone who has seen and love The Haunting (1960's black and white version)

This film is okay as long as you don't keep comparing it to The Haunting which was based on Shirley Jackson's book (which is actually mentioned in King's Rose Red)

As far as I can see he's basically taken Jackson's classic storyline and given it a few twists and called it his own, which is great loads of people pay homage to their favourite flicks but I think in view of the Haunting's fear factor (scares the pants off me even now) it was a homage that someone like Stephen King should have been able to do better.

Having read the Diary of Ellen Rimbauer I can understand why Rose Red was the perfect place the host a 'Haunting' ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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Bird on a Wire [1990]

starring: Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn, David Carradine, Bill Duke, Stephen Tobolowsky
directed by: John Badham

Release Date April 14, 2003
THis film was released shortly after the super success of Lethal Weapon 2 and looking at the trailer with its action sequences, one would expect traces of Mel Gibson's 'Riggs' portrayal. Quite the opposite ! This is an all out and out comedy and the pairing of Gibson and Goldie Hawn works wonders. This is what saves this fairly predictable film. The dialogues are corny but then with such a pairing, it works fine. 'The climatic scene ruins the film and could have well been edited. Better still watch this 110 minute film and once you reach 100 minutes; press the eject button.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Payback [1999]

starring: Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, David Paymer, Bill Duke
directed by: Brian Helgeland, John Myhre

Release Date September 20, 1999
...but comedy and revenge don't go together. Remakes rarely live up to the original and PAYBACK (the original being POINT BLANK with Lee Marvin) is no exception, and it's not for the lack of trying.
The acting is good, the story is good, but it's the directing and the sometimes slapstick humor that bring PAYBACK down. There's plenty of other GOOD revenge films out there, this one looks poor by comparison. 3 stars for effort and because it IS watchable.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Goldie Hawn Collection - Death Becomes Her/Bird On A Wire/Housesitter

starring: Goldie Hawn, Mel Gibson, Bill Duke, David Carradine, Meryl Streep
directed by: Frank Oz, John Badham, Robert Zemeckis

Release Date May 07, 2007
These three movies define Goldie Hawn at her very best! All three were released in the early - mid-90's and showpiece her talents against some of Hollywoods leading names including Mel Gibson and Meryl Streep!

Death Becomes Her
A wonderfully dry, yet classy comedy, pitting Goldie's character against Meryl Streep's bitter, fading Hollywood starlet for the affections of Bruce Willis. Although some of the CGI looks abit dated now, at the time it was cutting age and the gags come quick and easy at the two female leads wage war with crazy-funny results!

Bird On A Wire
Goldie gets dragged in to the life of 'witness relocation' former-lover Mel Gibson in this high speed comedy-adventure. Great one-liners and Goldie's wonderfully ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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Jazz - A Film By Ken Burns [2000]

starring: Wynton Marsalis; Duke Ellington; Keith David; Branford Marsalis; Gary Giddins; Albert Murray; Dan Morgenstern; Herbie Hancock; Studs Terkel; Nicholas Payton; Elvis Presley; Phil Schaap; Dwight D. Eisenhower; Samuel L. Jackson; James Maher (III)
directed by: Ken Burns

Release Date October 08, 2001
This is a true must see documentary. It is a brilliant insight into the development of jazz music but it is the social context of that development and the juxtaposition of contemporary events that make this so powerful.

One reviewer here objects to a perceived American bias, well I have no probelm with that, it was the third n a trilogy of films which also included documentaries on the American Civil War and Baseball. Burns made these as a celebration of American history and institutions, it is entirely correct that they should be USAcentric and to expect otherwise demonstrates an anti-American bias and whilst I can have some sypathy with anyone who is against the current administration in the US I can not condone generalising this to all America, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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American Gigolo [1980]

starring: Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Hector Elizondo, Nina Van Pallandt, Bill Duke
directed by: Paul Schrader

Release Date March 05, 2001
This is a highly watchable 80's romantic melodrama where the usual boy-girl relationship gets involved but Set against a military training environment. The acting performances from a great cast in this movie is what makes this movie what it is, a classic. And the movie is one of those that keeps you watching until the end. A subplot is included to add to the movies goodness and together this makes for a great all time classic movie.

The main character in American Gigolo plays a role that is of average performance and the movie is one that starts lively at the beggining and then dies down. The storyline is balanced out rather well and the movie is one that keeps you watching but this isn't as good as An Officer and a Gentleman. There is a lot of good parts to this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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Twisted

starring: Ashley Judd, Camryn Manheim, Samuel L. Jackson, Andy Garcia, David Strathairn
directed by: Philip Kaufman

Release Date October 04, 2004
*SPOILERS CONTAINED IN THIS REVIEW*
Ashley Judd is the queen of interesting high concept stories that are rendered bland and toothless. Double Jeopardy should have been one of the greatest movies ever made, but it was a boring dud because it shied away from the moral darkness of the story. The same thing has happened to this film in my opinion.

The movie starts pretty poorly. It feels fake and contrived. I just got the feeling that it wasn't clicking, wasn't working.

Then the plot kicks in and it was quite interesting. It was more of a psychological drama than I expected as the lead character keeps blacking out, to then have to investigate murders the next day of men she had recently slept with. Is she a serial killer?

Then the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Exit Wounds [2001]

starring: Steven Seagal, DMX, Isaiah Washington, Anthony Anderson, Michael Jai White
directed by: Andrzej Bartkowiak

Release Date September 24, 2001
EXIT WOUNDS announced Seagal's comeback, although lesser ones were to follow. In this superb and suspenseful action-thriller he plays a rogue cop chasing a drug dealer (DMX) and finding himself in a web of police corruption.
I can easily say EXIT WOUNDS is one of the best films in Seagal's career. It also features Anthony Anderson (From THE SHIELD) and Tom Arnold with some great and hilariously funny performances.